Stopper for a ladle or similar receptacle



July 20, 1965 E. HooPEs m STOPPER FOR A LADLE R SIMILAR RECEPTACLE Filed April 22, 196s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Edward Hoopes III K Qa/wauw E. HOOPES lll July 20, 1965 STOPPER FOR A LADLE 0R SIMILAR REGEPTACLE 2 Sheecs-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1963 INVENTaR Edward Hoopes IDL ,w/#M

United States Patent O 3,195,l98 STPPER FR A LADLE GR SlMiLAR REEEP'LACLE Edward Hoepes lll, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Vesuvius Crucible Company, Swissvale, a., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 274,448 3 Claims. (Cl. 22-8S) This invention relates to a stopper for a ladle or similar receptacle and more particularly to such a stopper in which the stopper rod is attached to the stopper head by a simple rectilinear movement of an attaching device requiring no special skill or dexterity so that the attachment of the rod to the head can be effected by an unskilled and untrained workman in a minimum of time and with assurance that the rod and head are properly and rmly connected ready for use.

My stopper is of the same general type as the stopper disclosed in copending United States patent application Serial No. 759,676, iiled September 8, 1958, comprising a refractory head having a well extending downwardly thereinto, a rod having a lateral projection at its bottom inserted downwardly into the well, the peripheral wall of the well having shoulder means facing toward the bottom of the well, and an attaching device in the form of insert means separate from the head and from the rod also inserted downwardly into the well into position to overlie at least a portion of the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod, the insert means when in operative position having means underlying the shoulder means and blocking withdrawal ofthe rod from the well and thereby attaching the rod to the head.

My stopper differs from the Stoppers of said copending application and from all other Stoppers with which I am familiar in that the attaching device or insert means has outwardly facing detent means retractably carried thereby which are retracted inwardly toward the axis of the rod when passing the shoulder of the well and are projected outwardly after passing the shoulder to underlie the shoulder and block withdrawal of the rod from the well. The insert means are applied by a simple rectilinear movement, no screwing or relative turning of the head and insert means being required.

The detent means are preferably connected with the insert means so as to form a unit therewith. The insert means may be in the form of an annulus or partial annulus so as to at least largely surround the stopper rod or may be in separate segments whereby the same result may be accomplished, although I prefer to form the insert means and the detent means as a single unit.

The detent means are preferably connected with the insert means by resilient means so that when the insert means are inserted downwardly into the well of the head the detent means are cammed inwardly toward the axis of the rod with consequent flexing of the resilient means when passing the shoulder of the well and are projected outwardly by the resilient means after passing the shoulder to underlie the shoulder and block withdrawal of the rod.

When the rod is raised the detent means, underlying the shoulder means of the head, raise the head along with the rod. While the load of the head may be carried by the resilient means which connect the detent means to the insert means l prefer to relieve the resilient means of the load of the head by operatively interposing the detent means, when in operative position, between the shoulder means of the head and the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod so that when the rod is raised the detent means are in compression between the lateral projection at the Y bottom of the rod and the shoulder means and cause raisldlg Patented July 2l), i965 ICC ing of the head along with the rod by the direct upward force exerted by the detent means against the shoulder means while the detent means are supported either directly or indirectly by the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod. I may seat the detent means when in operative position directly on the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod, or the detent means may be seated on a portion of the insert means which in turn is seated on the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod; in either case the detent means are raised bythe lateral projection at the bottom of the rod and in turn, acting in compression, raise the head by reason of underlying the shoulder means of the head.

The detent means are preferably in the form of a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart outwardly facing detents carried by the insert means. The insert means may have circumferentially spaced apart cavities opening outwardly thereof with a detent in each cavity, and resilient means may connect the detents to the insert means so that when the insert means are inserted downwardly into the well the detent means are cammed inwardly of the cavities with consequent flexing of the resilient means when passing the shoulder means of the well and are projected outwardly by the resilient means after passing the shoulder means to underlie the shoulder means and bloclc withdrawal of the rod from the well. The shoulder means are preferably in the form of a single peripherally continuous shoulder in the wall of the well although it would be possible to form the shoulder means as spaced apart niches to receive the respective detents when the insert means are inserted. An advantage of a single peripherally continuous shoulder is that the insert means can be inserted in any rotative position since the detents will properly cooperate with the shoulder in all rotative positions of the insert means.

I prefer that the resilient means be in the form of resilient mounting members connecting the respective detents to the insert means so that when the insert means are inserted downwardly into the well the detents are cammed inwardly accompanied by inward bending of the resilient mounting members when the detents pass the shoulder means of the Well and the detents are projected outwardly by the resilient mounting members after passing the shoulder means. The resilient mounting members may be in the form of relatively stiff strips of metal or other suitable material each connected at one end to the insert means and at the other end to one of the detents and arranged so that when they are in repose or not under bending stress they support the detent means from the insert means in radially outward position but are flexible to permit inward camming of the detents. When the detents pass the shoulder means the resilient mounting members tend to return to their position of repose and project the detents outwardly to underlie the shoulder means of the head. Each detent preferably has an inclined surface portion engaging the periphery of the well of the head when the insert means are inserted whereby the detents are cammed inwardly.

The stopper may have protective sleeve means disposed about the rod above the head, such sleeve means bearing on the insert means and being spaced from the top of the head. Thus the stopper head when in use is relieved of the downward thrust of the protective sleeve means, which downward thrust is communicated through the insert means to the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod. This relieves the stopper head of mechanical stresses which when superimposed upon the thermal stresses to which the stopper head is unavoidably subjected in use of the stopper could cause cracking or breaking of the stopper head.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

' open outwardly of the insert.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated more or less .diagrammatically certain pnesent preferred embodiments of the invention in which- FIGURE 1 is an axial cross-sectional view taken on the line I-I of FIGURE l2 of a ladle stopper head and rod connected by insert means in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a-transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line lI-II of FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 is an exploded isometric view of the insert means including the detent means; j

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a Vview similar to FIGURE 4 showing the insert means of FIGURES 1-4 in the process of being iinserted into the well of the stopper head; and

FIGURE 6 is a'view similar lto FIGURE 4 showing a modified form of my invention.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in 'FIGURES 1-5, there is shown a ladle stopper head 2 of refractory material, graphite being preferred. The exterior shape of the stopper head 2 may be conventional, the stopper head having a tapered nose portion 3 where it entersthe ladle nozzle. The stopper head 2 has a well "4 extending Vdoiw'nwardly'thereinto axially thereof from its upper surface 5. The Well 4 is cylindrical except that fat an intermediate zone between the top and bottom of 'the well a circumferentially continuous outward channel 6 is formed which provides a shoulder 7 facing toward the bottom of the well. Y

The ladle stopper rod is designated generally by reference numeral 8 and hasa lateral projection or flange;

9 at its bottom. The flange 9 as shown is coaxial with the rod 8, and the diameter of the flange is such that it may be freely inserted into the well .with a little clearance thereaboutas shown in the drawings. The thickness of the flange 9 is shown as being substantially equal to the distance between the bottom of the well and Y `theY bottom of the channel 6.

I provide insert means designated generally by reference numeral 10 which are Vseparate from the head and from the rod and may be inserted downwardly into the well 4 either simultaneously with the rod or thereafter into position to overlie at least a portion of the rod flange 9. In the forni shown the insert means 19 are in Vthe form of a circumferentially continuous annulus or collar whose vertical extent is such that when it seats on the rod flange when the rod flange is seated on the bottom of the well 4 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 4 the upper extremity of the insert projects above the upper surface 5 of the head. v

Formed at circumferentially spaced intervals in the outer surface of the insert 10 are cavities 11 which In the form of insert of FIGURES 1-5 and which is shown per se in the exploded view of FIGURE 3 each of the cavities 11 has a relatively wide portion 12 intersecting the bottom of the insert and a narrower portion 13V above and in communication with the portion 12. The portion 12 of each cavity 11 is shown as extending completely through the wall of the insert 10 while the portion 13 tapers from minimum depth at the upper portion of the insert to maximum depth at the bottom ofA the portion 13 where it communicates with the portion 12 Vas shown in FIGURE 3. Three cavities 11 spaced 120 apart are shown.

In each cavity of the insert a resilient mounting member 14 in the form of a strip of metal or other suitable material of substantial stiffness is attached to the insert by screw nails 15 and carries at its lower extremity a .detent 16. Each of the detents 16 operates in the relatively wide portion 12 of the cavity and its width is such that it substantially fills transversely the portion 12 of the cavity.V Each resilient mounting member 1d is, as shown, narrower than the detents, its width being such affected by the heat.

Each detent 16 has a substantially flat upper surface 17 and a substantially flat lower surface 1S with an inclined outer face 19 and an` inclined inner face 2li. As above indicated, the width of each detent is lsuch that it substantially spans the portion 12 of the cavity in which it is mounted while the resilientkmounting member 14 is -of approximately the same width as the narrower portion 13 of the cavity. The outer face 19 of each detent is transversely curved to the curvature of the wall of the Well.

When the resilient mounting members 14ste in repose .the insert 1t? carrying the detents 16 assumes the position lshown in FIGURE l with each resilient mounting inemberV 14 extending substantially straight downwardly and with the detent carried thereby projecting out of the cavity in which it is mounted. 'When .the `insert I@ is inserted downwardly into the well d either along with the rod or after the rod has been previously inserted the outer inclined faces 19 ofthe detents 16 engage the edge of the well 4 where it intersects the upper surface 5 of the head 2, which engagement cams Vthe detents 1o inwardly. FIG. AURE 5V shows the position to which the detents are thus cammed inwardly. They maintain the inward position of FIGURE 5 until they have passed the shoulder 7 at which time they are projected outwardly to the position shown Vin FIGURES 1 and 4 by the tendency of the resilient mounting members 14 to return to their position of repose. In otherwords the resilient mounting members 14 are flexed or tensioned as the insert is inserted into the well and until the detents pass below the shoulder 7 at which time the ,stored up energy of ilexure in the resilient mounting members 14 causes them to return or snap out to the position of FIGURES 1 and 4 and project the detents outwardly so that the upper surfaces 17 thereof underlie the shoulder 7. At the same time the lower surfaces 18 of the detents seat atop the rod flange 9. The engagement of the detents 15 under the shoulder 7 blocks withdrawal of the rod from the well and thereby attaches the rod to the head. By reason of the seating of the detents on the rod flange while at the same time their upper surfaces 17 engage the shoulder 7, when the rod isV moved upwardly the detents 15 act in compression to raise the stopper head 2, thereby relieving the flexible mounting members 14 of the load of the stopper head.

FIGURE 6 shows a modified form of insert 10a having the cavities 11a spaced above the bottom of the'insert lila instead of intersecting the bottom vof the insert. In this 'form the insert 19a has a peripherally continuous portion 21 below the bottoms of the cavities, which portion .seats upon the rod flange 9. When the detents 16a are in their operative position as shown in FIGURE 6 `V they underlie the shoulder 7 of the head 2 and seat atop the portion 21 of the insert which in turn seats atop the flange 9 of the rod 8. The effect is the same as in FIG- URES 1 and 4, i.e., when the rod isrraised the detents Vorient the insert at any specific angular position. There is no turning or screwing of the insert. The detents automatically snaprinto place underlying the shoulder of the head when the insert seats on the rod flange when the rod flange is at the bottom of the well. Thus the assembly of the stopper rod and head is effected with unprecedented ease and simplicity while a strong connection is provided and at the same time provision is made for supporting the protective sleeves 22 which surround the stopper rod above the stopper head independently of the stopper head. The thrust of the sleeves is transmitted through the insert to the rod harige so that the stopper head is free of any mechanical stress imposed by the sleeves.

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limi-ted thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stopper for a ladle or similar receptacle comprising a refractory head having a Well extending downwardly thereinto, a rod having a lateral projection at its bottom inserted downwardly into the well, the peripheral Wall of the well having a shoulder facing toward the bottom of the well, and insert means separate from the head and from the rod also inserted downwardly into 4the well into position to overlie at least a portion of the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod, the insert means having outwardly facing detent means carried by the insert means and retractable relatively to the insert means by which they are carried which are retracted inwardly toward the axis of the rod when passing the shoulder of the well and are projected outwardly after passing the shoulder to underlie the shoulder and block withdrawal of the rod from the well and thereby attach the rod to the head.

2. A stopper for a ladle or similar receptacle comprising a refractory head having a well extending downwardly thereinto, a rod having a lateral projection at its bottom inserted downwardly into the well, the peripheral wall of the well having shoulder means facing toward the bottom of the Well, and insert means separate from the head and from the rod also inserted downwardly into the well so as to at least largely surround the rod and into position to overlie at least a portion of the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod, the insert means having circumferentially spaced apart outwardly facing detents carried 'oy the insert means and retractable relatively to the insert means by which they are carried which are retracted inwardly toward the axis of the rod when passing the shoulder means or" the well and are projected outwardly after passing the shoulder means to underlie the shoulder means and block withdrawal of the rod from the well and thereby attach the rod to the head.

3. A stopper for a ladle or similar receptacle comprisingr a refractory head having a well extending downwardly thereinto, a rod having a lateral projection at its bottom inserted downwardly into the well, the peripheral Wall of the well having a shoulder facing toward the bottom of the well, insert means separate from the head and from the rod also inserted downwardly into the well into position to overlie at least a portion of the lateral projection at the bottom of the rod, the insert means having outwardly facing detent means carried by the insert means and retractable relatively to the insert means by which they are carried which are retracted inwardly toward the axis of the rod when passing the shoulder of the well and are projected outwardly after passing the shoulder to underlie the shoulder and block withdrawal of the rod from the well and thereby attach the rod to Ithe head, and protective sleeve means disposed about the rod above the head, the sleeve means bearing on the insert means and being spaced from the top of the head.

WILLIAM I. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

MARCUS U. LYONS, MICHAEL V. BRINDSL Examiners, 

1. A STOPPER FOR A LADLE OR SIMILAR RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A REFRACTORY HEAD HAVING A WELL EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREIN, A ROD HAVING A LATERAL PROJECTION AT ITS BOTTOM INSERTED DOWNWADLY INTO THE WELL, THE PERIPHERAL WALL OF THE WELL HAVING A SHOULDER FACING TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL, AND INSERT MEANS SEPARATE FROM THE HEAD AND FROM THE ROD ALSO INSERTED DOWNWARDLY INTO THE WELL INTO POSITION TO OVERLIE AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE LATERAL PROJECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ROD, THE INSERT MEANS HAVING OUTWARDLY FACING DETENT MEANS CARRIED BY THE INSERT MEANS AND RETRACTABLE RELATIVELY TO THE INSERT MEANS BY WHICH THEY ARE CARRIED WHICH ARE RETRACTED INWARDLY TOWARD THE AXIS OF THE ROD WHEN PASSING THE SHOULDER OF THE WELL AND ARE PROJECTED OUTWARDLY AFTER PASSING THE SHOULDER TO UNDERLIE THE SHOULDER AND BLOCK WITHDRAWAL OF THE ROD FROM THE WELL AND THEREBY ATTACH THE ROD TO THE HEAD. 